Trunk-top support



(No Model.) 2 S hets-Shee t 1.

S. M. MIOHELSON.

. TRUNK TOP S UPPORT.

No. 289,548. Patented Dec. 4, 1883-.

(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

MICHELSON.

- "TRUNK TOP SUPPORT.

1%. 289,548. Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

viii-01216 5.

rrn STATES ATEN'r Orrin.

TRUNK-TOP SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No.

289,548, dated December 4, 1888,

Application filed July 23,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SIGIsMUND M. MICHEL- soN, of Milwaukee, in the .countyof Milwaukee, and'in the State of Wisconsin, have in- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Top Supports; and. I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to trunks; and it consists in certain devices for sustaining the top of the trunk when open, and preventing it from accidentally and prematurely closing, and from falling back, all substantially as set forth hereinafter.

I 5 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a trunk provided with my improved top-supports. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the line a: a: of Fig. 1, but showing the top thrown back and supported by my 20 devices. 7 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a trunk with my improvement applied thereto, with the top open, and in section 011 the line 3 7 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4. is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the valance and valance-catch omitted, and the rear top-support raised higher than in the preceding figure; and Fig. 5 is a detail View illustrating the construction of the hinged connection of my rear top-support.

A represents the body or main portion of a trunk, and B the top, which is secured to the trunk-body by my peculiar rear top'supports, C instead of by the ordinary hinges in common use. These supports resemble a butt or hinge in general construction, but operate differently, inasmuch as they do not close together as hinges do; but, on the contrary, as they open out the inner edges, 0, on each side of the central hinge part, c, of the upper part, 0, bear against the vertical outer surface of the lower part, 0 (the two parts being united by the bolt 0,) and thus the upper part is prevented from dropping any lower down and closing against the lower part, (as would be the case with ordinary hinges,) and hence the top. B is kept from falling back and down beyond the point shown in Figs. 2 and 4. WVhen the top is thus open and supported, it will generally balance itself nicely,

so that more than an ordinary jar would be required to close it,- but to guard more effectually against such premature and accidental for use in connection with the metal valance b, surrounding the lower outer edges of the top B, and projecting downward therefrom when the trunk is closed, in order to make a tight joint, and to exclude, dust, dirt, &e., from the contents of the trunk. The valance bis provided at one side and near the back. of the trunk with a hole, b, to. receive the hooked end (Z of the catch D, which latter is pivoted to the upper edge of one side or end of the trunk-body A by a pivot, a, as shown,

and when not in use may be turned in above the top tray of the trunk, out of the way, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to enable the top to be closed. This catch D d will effectually prevent the top from being closed while it is in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3. By lowering the top-supports G 0 still more, this effect can be obtained partially without the use of the catches D; but it is much safer to use them, and, in connection with the supports 0 0 they afford absolute security against the danger of accidental closing of the trunk-top.

In order that the lower part, 0 of my rear support may be perfectly vertical, I preferably recess or mortise the rear of the trunkbody to receive the hinge parts or bolts of my said supports, as shown and hence when the trunk-top is closed the upper part, 0, of my said support will be also in vertical line with the lower part, and by reason of the hinge parts and bolts being on the inside, within the described recesses or mortises formed in the rear of the trunk-body, the outer surfaces of my said top-supports will be perfectly smooth and even, instead of presenting projecting hinge parts, and this feature of my supports is of value, inasmuch as trunks provided therewith may be pushed close against the walls of a room, or against furniture, without indenting, scratching, or marring the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a trunk and its top, the supports 0 O, secured to the body of the said trunk and its top, respectively, and secured together around a bolt, 0, at their in ner ends, forming a hinge, the proj ectin g parts closing I have devised a special catch adapted as in the ordinary style of trunks, 7

of which are inserted within a recess or mortise formed in the rear of the trunk-body, and with the outer surfaces of the parts 0 0 perfectly smooth and level with each other, whereby when the top is opened it is adapted to be supported on the plate 0 of the said support and prevented from falling back or dropping down, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a trunk-body provided at the rear with recesses or mortises, and a trunk-top, the top-supports described, consisting of the plates 0 and G, secured to the trunk body and top, respectively, the plates O'having central hingeparts, c, and cutaway or bearing edges 0 c on each side thereof, at the base of said plates, and the plates 0 being centrally cut away at top, and having hinge parts on each side of said cut-away portions, the two plates being united by the bolt 0, and the said bolt and hinge parts being inserted within the described mortises in the trunk-body, whereby the said plates 0 and 0, when the trunk is closed, shall present perfectly smooth and level outer surfaces, and be in vertical line with each other, but when the top is opened adapted to bear one against the other, and thereby prevent the top from falling back or dropping down, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a trunk and its top, having a metal valance provided with a hole, I), the horizontally-moving catch D, secured by a pivot, a, to the trunk-body, and having a hooked end, (1, adapted to enter the hole in the valance and prevent the trunk-top from falling down forward, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a trunk and its top, having a metal valance provided with a hole b, the pivoted catch D d, adapted to keep the top from falling forward, and the hinged sup port 0 C 0, adapted to prevent the said top from falling back, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, on this 29th day of June, 1883, in the presence of two witnesscs.

SIGISMUND M. MICHELSON.

itnesses:

H. G. UNDERWOOD, M. KAUMHEIMER. 

